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“We are delighted that despite the restrictions associated with the corona pandemic, we are contributing to clean energy supplies in Poland with two additional megawatt PV systems. Despite the difficult communication, the professional and intensive cooperation of everyone involved made this possible", explains Martin Tauschke, Managing Director of SUNfarming GmbH and SUNfarming Polska sp.z.o.o..
The Polish auctioning system of procurement and an internal policy based on renewable energies allow SUNfarming as a medium-sized company to support the expansion of renewable energies and to make profitable investments in Poland. SUNfarming started the construction of the first 4 megawatt solar parks in Poland at the end of December 2018. By winning the tender, all PV parks benefit from a 15-year "contract for differences" with the Polish Energy Agency URE, which guarantees a fixed feed-in tariff for each kWh produced by paying the difference to the market price.
Photovoltaics is becoming increasingly important among renewable energy sources in Poland as it is the cheapest energy that can be obtained with existing technologies. In addition, the use of fallow land and soils with low soil quality spares agricultural arable land.

The lockdown in the corona pandemic has shown that regenerative energies are more crisis-proof than coal and oil. The worldwide expansion of renewable energies is still in positive territory and the International Energy Agency expects growth of 5%. Electricity consumption fell, but the feed-in of renewable energies into the power grid is up to 80%.

“Due to the falling electricity consumption during the crisis, many classic power plants were not started up. It is not worth it because the operating costs are too high. Renewables are more stable and crisis-resistant and, thanks to their decentralization, have a further crisis advantage over large power plants. I'm thinking of attacks on the critical infrastructure here, decentralized systems are much less in focus here, ”explains Martin Tauschke SUNfarming Managing Director and co-founder.
"In addition, power plants need employees to operate and if they cannot work, e.g. if the minimum distance cannot be maintained, the plants stand still. Regardless of this, PV systems continue to feed in“, Martin Tauschke continues.

After several months of preparation, SUNfarming signed a PPA with the Togolese state on Thursday, January 16, 2020, for over 50 MWp Food & Energy plants. Installed on 2 x 50 hectares of land, the systems, in addition to supplying energy, are intended to help up to 50,000 people in the region receive training in the area of organic vegetable and egg production in the next 10 years. In addition, technicians are trained for the solar sector and the basics of electromobility are taught. Like in all other African countries, SUNfarming strives to actively involve GIZ and or KfW / DEG.

The SUNfarming Food & Energy facility will be the starting signal for a program to promote rural structural development in Togo. The partner in Togo is the CCIT (Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie du Togo, part of the Ministre du Commerce. It is responsible for the training and operation of the Food & Energy plants, under the guidance of SUNfarming. German storage and processing technologies in the field of vegetables and egg processing are as much part of the overall project as the production planning of e.g. tomato juice and ketchup to attract additional investors in these areas.

The SUNfarming Food & Energy concept can make a significant contribution to the success of the "Development Program in Rural Areas" planned by the Togolese government. In addition to a qualified workforce, this project also provides national and international investors with the energy they need to operate the processing plants that are to be built on site.

(Foto left to right:
Vice President CCIT Remie Moevi, President CCIT Germain Méba, Marc Bidamon, Energy Minister Togo, Peter Schrum, SUNfarming, Tiem Bolidja, Energy Ministry responsible for EE, Prinz Lorenzo Koageh Director SUNfarming Togo, Kossi Amétépé, CCIT 2. Vice President GLE.)

As part of the G20 initiative Compact with Africa (CwA), for the second time Chancellor Angela Merkel invited the twelve heads of state and government of the African Compact partner countries as well as South Africa to Berlin as G20 partner of the initiative for November 19, 2019.

On this occasion, the Africa Association of German Business, together with the Sub-Saharan Africa Initiative of German Business (SAFRI), organizes the "G20 Investment Summit 2019 - German Business and the CwA Countries" in Berlin. The investor conference is under the patronage of Chancellor Dr. Ing. Angela Merkel. The Chancellor will take part in the conference together with her guests and open it up solemnly.

The conference is aimed at high-ranking representatives of German companies and their partners from the African CwA partner countries. The focus is on lighthouse projects of German companies and economic reform projects in the CwA countries.

The event will feature companies with Africa commitments - and those with investment projects in CwA countries (Egypt, Ethiopia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia), but also with projects in other countries - the opportunity to position oneself in a high-level political environment with strong media support and to make current activities visible.

"We are pleased to be presenting our Food & Energy Training Project for Togo to such an important audience at the G20 Summit. After nearly 20 years of project experience in Africa, we can say that only in a politically stable country with the help of reliable local partners such as Prince Lorenzo of Togo, European technologies, PPP partnerships with industry and long-term and reliable project management are safe investments guaranteed, "explains Peter Schrum, founder and main shareholder of the SUNfarming Group.

"With the help of KfW / DEG and GIZ, Food & Energy has been further developed over the last 12 years as PP partnership projects, so that it is economically scalable and can now be reliably implemented in Togo at 60ha with 30 MWp of energy output. The project can provide training and a job for up to 30,000 people within just 10 years", continues Peter Schrum.

The Global Summit on Market Innovation and Development, hosted by CHINT, China's leading smart energy solution provider, held in Wenzhou from 9-11 September, focused on "Global Energy, Smart Interconnection". The event aimed to explore the challenges and opportunities facing the energy sector while providing a platform for the demonstration of new and innovative products.

The event attracted scholars from academic institutions, industry experts and leading players from over 140 countries, as well as CHINT's business partners across the globe. Participants gathered to discuss and share expertise on industry trends and critical issues. Highlighted discussions include the keynote speeches on CHINT's innovative milestones in the Industry 4.0 era, energy storage & solar, smart grid, smart meter as well as low voltage fields.

Extinction of pollinator insects threatens to produce $ 235-577 billion a year worldwide, according to the Biodiversity Council. Of 8 million insects, 1 million are threatened with extinction.
In March we started our pilot project "SUNfarming Wild Herbs Meadows - for more biodiversity ". First, the right seed mixture had to be found: it should be perennial and contain many medicinal herbs, bees and insects should find food and shelter throughout the summer, the meadow should be colorful so that also pleases our eyes.
"Skeptically we looked at the small amount of seed ordered: 1 kg for one hectare of arable land! We milled, sown and rolled - and then waited, "says Ursula Eckmann, SUNfarming Marketing.

"It followed a long dry April, on our field was still nothing to see. At the end of May we could see the first tender green and long-awaited rain brought us the sight of a dense herb carpet. The carpet is now more than knee high at the beginning of July and in the photo you can see how colorful it blooms. Bees, beetles, bumblebees, caterpillars and butterflies frolic on the flowers and leaves, with a stature height of about 60 cm, the meadow is an ideal hiding place for animals, "Ursula Eckmann continues.

Many plants are known as medical herbs and can be used to make teas, ointments and tinctures. Marigolds have a disinfectant, anti-inflammatory and wound healing, shepherd's purse contains a lot of vitamin C and a lot of minerals, yarrow was already known in the Middle Ages as a special gypsophila and ribwort helps with itchy mosquito bites. Many of the seeded herbs have a positive effect on the entire cardiovascular system. Rosemary improves blood circulation, oregano soothes and borage counteracts nervous irritation. Frequent use in the kitchen is well worth it.
With a stature height of 60 cm there is no impairment of the performance of the solar modules by shading.
Our solar parks not only generate renewable energy but, at the same time, provide added value for nature through the dual use of the areas. Bloom strips between the rows of modules promote the biodiversity of plants and animals. Herbal mixtures, herbal salads, smoothies or Sunny Wild Honey are produced regionally and sustainably.

SUNfarming Conclusion: Diversity is healthy!